More Than The Hem

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A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure.Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped. Luke 8:43-44, NLT

The story of the bleeding woman has been my favourite story about Jesus since I came across it.  Last night I was thinking about the story and all of a sudden I heard, “I want more for you than to keep touching the hem of my robe.”  I have been reeling ever since.

Yes the story is about the great faith of the bleeding woman.  The reason it is my favourite story is because Jesus stops and validates her action by saying:

"Daughter," he said to her, "your faith has made you well. Go in peace." Luke 8:48, NLT

I always thought that Jesus did that because he knew that, given the culture, she would spend the rest of her life wondering if she had defiled Him.  He needed to validate what she did.  So He stopped in the middle of what He was doing and validated her.

I think that’s true but maybe it’s more than that.  Maybe He wanted her to have more than the hem of his garment.  I am also not meant to hide, stay low, and brush against the hem.  It’s time for the full embrace and rest in His presence.

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